Apparatus for automatically coating biscuits, &amp;c.



Patented Apr. I, i902.

, G. S. BAKER 81. W. T. CARR. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY COATINGBISCUITS, 8w.

(Application filed Nov. 13, 1900.)

(Nd Mot lel.) l3 Sheets-Sheet l.

No. 696,536. Patented Apr. I, I902.

' G. $-BAKER &. W. T. CARR.

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY COATING BISCUITS, 8w.

Applicatiun filed Nov. 13, 1900.) (No'ModeL) l3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

" l l II V I, H, 1.1

3m: cams PEIERS on. morouma. WASHINGTON. a. c.

mismsss, Patented Apr. I, I902. a. s. BAKER & w. T. CARR. APPARATUS FORAUTOMATICALLY COATING BISCUITS, 811;.

Application med Nov. 13, 1900.;

(No Model.) I3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

THE Noam zYzns co, PNOTCA-LITHO.,WASN1NGTON. uv cv Patented Apr. I

6. S. BAKER & W. T. CARR. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY COATING BISCUITS,8w.

\Apmjcntinn flle'l Nov. 13, 1900.)

I3 ShBets--Sheet 4.'

(No ma Patented Apr.

G. S. BAKER &. W. T. CARR.

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY COATING BISCUITS. &c.

(Application filed Nov. 13. 1900,\

I3 Sheets-Sheet 5.

Lflo Model.)

THE oam: PETERS 00., PNoYo-uma WASHINGTON, 01c.

No 696,536. Patented Apr. I, I902. G. S. BAKEB & W. T. CARR. APPARATUSFOR AUTOMATICALLY COATING BISCUITS, 81.0.

v (Application filed Nov. 13, 1900. (No Model.) l3 Sheets-Sheet 6.

Patented Apr. I

G. S. BAKER &. W. T. CARR. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY COATING BISCUITS,&c.

Application filed Nov. 13. 1900.]

I3 Sheets-Sheet 7.

(no Model.)

TIIIIT! TNE ubnms PETERS so moroumu, wasmuomw. o c,

No. 696,536. Patented Apr. I, I902.

G. S. BAKER 81. W. T. CARR. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY COATINGBISCUITS, liq.

(Application filed Nov. 18, 1900.) (No ModeL; I3 Sheets-Sheet 9.

No. 696,536. Patented Apr. I, i902. G. S. BAKER & W. T. CARR.

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY COATING BISCUITS, &c.

(Application filed Nov. 13, 1900.) (No Model.) l3 SheetsSheet m.

a FIG-J3.

W. N. 3M

No. 696,536. Patented Apr. I, I902.

G. S. BAKER & W. T. CARR.

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY COATING BlSCUITS, 8w.

Application filed Nov. 13. 1900.1

' (No Model.) l3 Sheets-Shee1 ll.

Noam: PzTcRs pnpyoumoq WASHINGTON o c 1 v m. 636,536. Pat ented Apr. I,I902.

a. s'. BAKER & w. T. CARR. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY COATING BlSCUlTS,8w.

{Application filed Nov. 13, 1900.) 5 (No Model.) l3 Sheets-Sheet l2,'

m I I F Patented Apr. I

G. S. BAKER &. W; T. CARR. APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY COATING BISCUITS,&C.

(Application filed Nov. 13, 1900.

l3 Sheets-Sheet l3.

(No Model.)

I I l m: NORRI$ PETERS cu. mormumon wAsHwr, m u k UNllTlED StratusPATENT Option.

GEORGE SAMUEL BAKER, OF LONDON, AND \VILLIAM THEODORE CARR,

OF OARLISLE, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR AU'TOMATlCALLY COATBNG BISCUITS, 84,0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,536, dated April 1,1902.

Application filed November 13, 1900- Serial No. 36,844. (No model.)

T0 66 1071/0111 zit may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE SAMUEL 13A jects of the Queen of England,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forAutomatically Coating Biscuits and other Articles with Fluid orSemifiuid and Solid Material, (for which application has been madeinGreat Britain under N0. 14:,967, dated August 21, 1900,) of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for antomatically coatinginsuccession with the aid of a stencil the individual members of a seriesof biscuits or other articles with fluid or semitluid material and alsofor placing in certain cases a layer of solid material upon that fluidor semiiluid coating.

According to thisinvention, which is hereinafter described by way ofexample in its application to the coating of biscuits with icing, thoughapplicable to other analogous uses, the biscuits are taken automaticallyfrom a source of supply and coated automatically in succession. They mayafterward be placed in the desired order one. conveyor. The presentinvention is believed to be the first by which a series of consecutiveoperations beginning with the mechanical withdrawal of biscuits or thelike from the source of supply and terminating with the coating of thearticle or the disposal of the coated article on the conveyer can beautomatic throughout. From the conveyor the iced biscuit may bedelivered to drying-chambers or otherwise disposed of, as may bedesired. On its way to the drying-chambers it may be led under a device,such as is hereinafter described, which lays a covering biscuit upon theiced coating of each coated biscuit, so as to produce biscuitsandwiches, each consisting of alayer oficing orother composition andthe two biscuits between which the icing is retained.

In machines constructed according to this invention the application ofthe coating to the biscuit or the like is effected by the employment ofa stencil-plate provided with perforations having the shape in which theicing is to be laid on the biscuit in combination with a bottomlesshopper, the two having relative motion, say, by reciprocation of thehopper along the upper surface of the stencilplate, so that it isalternately over perforated and unperforatcd portions of the plate. Animportant feature of this invention is the combination, with such astencil-plate and hopper, which are well known, of apparatus by whichthe biscuits are in turn taken from a source of supply and lifted up andheld against the under side of the stencil beneath its perforation whilethey receive a deposit of icing in pattern or outline corresponding tothat of the stencil at the times when the outlet of the hopper comesfrom over the unperforated portion of the stencil (which serves to closeit) to the perforated portion. It will be observed from the foregoingthat the stencil-plate serves also as the hopper-valve.

' Other important features of this invention are devices such as arehereinafter exemplilied for effecting and controlling the reciprocationof the hopper, for retaining the biscuits in proper position while theyare receiving the icing upon their surfaces, for insuring theirdisengagement, pneumatically or otherwise, from the stencil, forenabling different portions of a biscuit to be iced of different colors,and for producing biscuit sandwiches.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are respectively side andend views in perspective of one construction of machine according tothis invention. Fig. 1" is a side elevation, partly in section,corresponding with the perspective view Fig. 1. Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7are perspective views of respectively the feed-columns, feeder-plate,liftingretainer, serving also as a pneumatic disengager, stationarystencil-plate, and reciprocating hopper, all comprised in the machineillustrated by Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 8 is a vertical section transverse tothe length of the disengager shown in Fig. 5, taken on the line 8 8 ofthat figure. Fig. 9 illustrates the cam for operating the reciprocatinghopper and also mechanism by which it is insured that the hopper shallcease to reciprocate and to deliver icing whenever the foot of theattendant is removed from the pedal shown. Fig. 10 illustrates inperspective an alternative construction of pneumatic disengager, partlyin section,.in which a group of pneumatic tubes is alloted to eachbiscuit. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a non-pneumatic retainer, andFig. 12 a similar perspective view to which is added the pattern offeeder-plate employed with the retainer shown in Fig. 11. Figs. 13 and13 are perspective views of a modified disengager and of related parts,all adapted for use with the retainer and feederplate shown in Figs. 11and 12. Fig. 14 is a view, partly in section, of a multicolor hopper,hereinafter described in detail. Fig. 15 is a perspective view, partlyinsection, of onehalf of a hopper with brushes provided at its outlet inthe manner hereinafter explained. Fig. 16 is a diagram illustrating avacuum vessel and its appurtenances alternative to the pump L, and Fig.17 indicates diagrammatically arrangements whereby air-pressure or apiston can be applied to the contents of the hopper N to expedite theirexit to the stencil. Fig. 18 illustrates in side elevation, partly insection, the device, hereinbefore referred to, for laying coveringbiscuits on the iced coatings of otherbiscuits. Fig. 19 is an end Viewin section on the line 19 19 of Fig. 18.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

In the machine illustrated by Figs. 1 to 9 the main framingAsupportsshafts B, O, D, and E in suitable bearings. Power is supplied from anyconvenient source to the shaft 0, which drives by gearing the companionshaft B. Upon'the shaft 0 is a cam O, and on the shaft D at its ends,which project beyond the frame A, are arms D, linked by links D tosliders F, which can be reciprocated in guides A by the arms D. Toenable the cam C to cause the arms D to oscillate for the purpose ofproducing such reciprocation, an arm D is fixed on the shaft Dintermediate of its ends and provided with an antifriction-roller Dwhich bears against the cam O. The roller D is kept in contact with thecam O by means of a spring D se cured at one end to the frame A and atthe other end to the arm D the cam operating to move the arm D away fromit and the spring serving to return it in a manner generally understood.

Between the sliders F the feeder-plate F, secured to them, extendsacross the machine. Above it is secured on the frame A a group offeeder-columns G. Each of these columns is charged with biscuits piledone upon another and is open at its lower end, so that the lowermostbiscuit in each column rests on the top surface of the plate F, which issmooth, except near its leading edge, at which there are depressions Fpartially closed at their bottomsby supporting-bars F and having projections F between them which act as ejectors, as hereinafter described.The feeder-plate reciprocates in a horizontal plane. In front of it,parallelwith it and arranged to reciprocate in a vertical plane, is acombined lift ing-retainer and pneumatic disengager, the body of whichis a hollow bar H, with its ends arranged to travel in guides A in theframe A, in which they are raised and lowered by links J, having jaws Jat the upper ends, which receive pins H, projecting from the ends of thebar.- The lower ends of the links J are in turn controlled byradius-rods J pivoted to the frame A and operated by earns 13, securedto the outer ends of the shaft 13. The radius-rods carryantifriction-rollers at their junction with the links J.

From the hollow bar H tubes H each communicating with its interior by aconstricted passage H (see Fig. 8,) extend upward, and each carrieswithin it an elastic tube H the top end of which extends above thecontaining-tube H Just below the top end of each elastic tube H is asmall guide-plate H stationary on the tube H to which it is secured by aclip and forming a bridge between the top end of each tube H and theadjacent surface of an endless-belt conveyer K at times when the bar His at the lower extreme of its travel, these being the times at which ahiscuit previously held on the top of each tube H is required to slideedgewise from that situation onto the conveyor.

A flexible tube H connects the interior of the bar H with that of avacuum-pump cylinder L of any convenient construction, the piston ofwhich is operated by a bell-crank lever L, which can oscillate aroundthe shaft E, on which it is supported, under the action of a cam B fixedon the shaft B intermediate of its ends and shaped to give a quicksuction-stroke to the vacuum-pump piston fora reason which willhereinafter appear. The bell-crank lever L is moved in one direction bythe action of the cam B and returned in the opposite direction under thecontrol of the cam by a spring L secured at one end to the lever andconnected at the opposite end to the frame A. The passages H Fig. 8, areconstricted relatively to the bore of the tubes H", in order to checkthe rapid influx of air 'into the interior of the bar H, which wouldtend to occur should the top of any one of the elastic tubes becomeunsealed by displacement of the biscuit borne on it during the existenceof a partial vacuum in the bar H, the cylinder L,and the connectionsbetween them. Such influx being thus checked the vacuum is not destroyedsufiiciently to neutralize its object should the accidental unsealing ofany of the tubes H occur.

Above the upper limit of travel of the tubes H with the bar H is thestencil-plate M, fixed to the frame A and provided with perforations M,having the outline (in this instance circular) in which the icing is toappear on the IIC biscuit. In the example illustrated a perforation Mcomes exactly above a corresponding tube ll of the bar H. A bottomlesshopper N is caused to reciprocate along the'upper surface of the plate Mby links N, connecting it to a rocking frame E, fixed upon the 'shaft'E.This shaft is oscillated by another arm E actuated by the flange B of acam 13 secured on the rotatable shaft B. From Fig. 9 it will be seenthat the arm E is intended to bear by means of a rollerE on the interiorcircumference of the cam-flange B and to be actuated by that interiorcircumferenc'e. At the end of the shaft E is secured an arm E on which aspring E attached to the frame A, pulls continually. This spring and thearm E are so disposed that they will always tend to move the shaft E insuch a direction as to bring the antifriction-roller of the armE againstthe boss of the cam B and thus shift the hopper N to and keep it at thatextreme of its travel which is over the unperforatediend of thestencil-plate M; but when it is' desired to keep the hopper inreciprocation the action ofthis spring E is neu tralized and overcome bypressing down a pedal E pivoted to the main frame A and connected by aconnection E passing overa guide-roller O on the frame A to the rockingframe E. The connection E is elastic, inasmuch as it comprises a springE and this latter is of such strength or given such leverage that whileit permits the rocking frame E to respond to the action of the cam B itcan overcome the other spring E when the pedal E is depressed. Ifdesired, the spring E and arm E maybe dispensed with, the cam actionbeing relied on to throw the hopper into inoperative position when thepedal is raised.

The operation of this machine is as follows: The feeder-columns G havingbeen charged, the feeder-plate F retires 'until the lowermost biscuit ineach column drops into the depression F provided for it in that plate,in which it is supported by the supportingbars F The feeder-platethen'advances, carryin g a biscuit in each depression, the smooth partof the plate in rear of the depressions preventing the remainingbiscuits in the columns G from issuing till next required. By theadvance of the feeder-plate each of the biscuits therein is broughtabove the top of the elastic tube H allotted to it on the combinedlifting retainer and disengager-body H, which atthis time is at thelower limit of its travel. Next thebar H rises, causing the tops of thetubes H to pass upward through the openings between the supporting-barsF in the feeder-plate, lifting the biscuits off those bars and bringingthem against the un der side of the stencil-plate M, beneath theperforations M in it. In this operation the elasticity of the tubes Hserves two purposes,

one being that of a support or retainerfor the biscuit, which shall besufficiently yieldagainst a shoulder H (see Fig. 8) in the bar H, so asto make a fluid-tight joint with each.

The biscuits arrive up at the stencil-plate M at a time when the hopperN is over the unperforated portion thereof and is closed thereby.Immediately upon their arrival the hopper is made to traverse thestencil-plate and retire again to its first position, thus drawing overthe biscuits at the perforations M the icing with which it is chargedand which exudes into the stencil from its lower end. The icing beingthus completed, the hollow bar H descends, the tubes H pulling thebiscuits away from the stencil with them pneumatically. Just as the barH is about to descend the piston in the vacuum-pump cylinder L makes arapid suction-stroke, so that the biscuits may be retained firmly uponthe top ends of the elastic tubes H and by them disengaged sharply andwith certainty from the stencil (which may happen to be sticky) duringthe downward movement of the bar which follows and in which the biscuitsget down to the level of the feeder-plate F, at which level they ceaseto descend. Immediately thereafter the feeder-plate F repeats itsadvance movement to bring forward a second row of biscuits forsubjection to the several operations just described, and in so advancingthe plate F pushes, by means of the ejector projections F the icedbiscuits off the tubes H across the guide-plates or bridges H onto theadjacent intermittently-moved belt conveyer K, thus completing the cycleof automatic operations to which the machine subjects each series ofbiscuits obtained by the feeder-plate from the source of supply.

The cams by which the several operations are effected are simpleeccentric or singlelobe cams, needing no special description, and theproper timing of these operations in relation to each other is effectedby a suitable setting of the cams and gearing together of their shaftsin a manner well understood by engineers.

Fig. 10 illustrates in perspective, partly in soctioma construction ofpneumatic disengager in which for the purpose of engaging biscuitspossessing great length and little width a group of three elastic tubesH of the kind hereinbefore described is provided for each biscuit.

Fig. 11 illustrates, as aforesaid, an alternative and non-pneumaticconstruction of' device for receiving the biscuits fromja feederplate,lifting them, and retaining them by yielding supports against the undersideof the stencil-plate. It consists of a lifter-bar h, whichcorresponds with the bar'H in the pneumatic'device first described andis reciprocated by similar mochanism-viz., pins ICO H, links J,radius-rods J and cams B. Instead, however, of being hollow and carryingtubes to engage thebiscuits it is merely a frame having upon it verticalprojections h, each supporting two yielding facings 7L2, consisting of ashort length of rubber tube held in place by a wire 7L3, extendingthrough each tube and having downwardly-turned ends it, which are passedthrough the projections, so as to keep the wires and facings in place.The biscuits are supported between'adjacent projections, one yieldingfacing of a projection coming under one side of the biscuit and oneunder the opposite side, as will be seen from Fig. 11, in which areshown biscuits P thus supported. With this construction of liftingretaining device the feeder-plate F must be of the pattern illustratedin Fig. 12 and must carry the biscuits forward from the feeder-columns Gto the projections h by extensions F, in which are depressionsf the endsf of which serve a purpose similar to that of the projections Fhereinbefore referred to, pushing the biscuits after they have been icedoff the facings 77. onto the conveyor or other device provided for theirultimate reception. It should be noted that this device while operativeto lift the biscuits up to and retain them against the bottom of thestencil does not withdraw them therefrom after the icing is done, andtherefore for this latter purpose the disengager (shown in Figs. 13 and13, which illustrate also other parts of the apparatus adjacent) isemployed with it. This disengager comprises a bar Q, from which fingersQ extend down toward the perforations M of the stencil, which happen inthis instance to be oblong. This bar is linked to the lower portion ofthe reciprocating hopper N by links Q pivoted to the latter, as shown,and it extends above and beyond side flanges M of the stencil-plate, soas to bear at certain times upon them and at other times upon horizontalextensions h of the vertically-moving bar 72.. When that bar h rises toelevate the biscuits to the level of the under side of thestencil-plate, the extensions 77. rise with it and lift the bar Q, farenough to take the fingers Q upward clear of the biscuits and of theperforations of the stencil. \Vhile they are thus upheld they moveforward, when the hopper N moves to the perforations, for the bar Q,then travels along the extensions aforesaid. When the hopper returns,the bar Q is drawn back by it, so as to bring the fingers over theperforations again, and thereafter upon descent of the bar h the bar Qfollows it downward far enough to cause the fingers Q to push the icedbiscuits down oif the stencil, the bar being stopped, however, in itsdownward movement by the flanges M of the stencil-plate, which thuscheck it in order to prevent the fingers upon it from descending farenough to foul the series of iced biscuits on the way to the convcyer Kor those next fed under the stencil by the feeder-plate.

Fig. 14 illustrates in perspective, partly broken away, a constructionof reciprocating hopper by which difierent portions of each biscuit canbe iced of different colors, the particular hopper illustrated beingadapted to deliver four colors in parallel stripes onto each biscuit. Inthe upper portion N of the hopper there are four troughs N N N N allextended transversely across the line of travel which the biscuitspursue in relation thereto andwhich is indicated by the arrow. In thelower or delivery portion of the hopper there are groups of smallertroughs 12 91. n n. The mouths of these latter are situated at rightangles to those of the larger troughs above them. Separating the smallerfrom the larger troughs is a plate N so perforated that the severalsmall troughs n are fed only with the contents of the single largertrough N and the troughs of n n with those of the single larger trough N,N or NZrespectively.

It must be understood that the reciprocating hopper N need not be in allcases bottomless. For instance, there might be bristles or brushes Njust within its lower end and extending to its outlet, as shown in Fig.15, through which the icing or other fluid or semifluid material shouldpass or strain instead of being allowed to gravitate unobstructed to themouth of the hopper-outlet. Further, instead of producing the desiredsudden vacuum in the tubes -I-l by a pump operating intermittently andgiving a quick suction-stroke, as described, an arrangement such asillustrated in Fig. 16 may be adopted. In this view there is shown avacuum vessel R, in which a vacuum approximately constant is maintainedby any suitable means. This is coupled to the hollow bar H by aconnection H in which there is a valve or cock H automatically operatedby some moving part of the machine, such as a tappet 13 on the shaft 13,at proper intervals to give the momentary suction effect required.

The upper portion of the reciprocating hopper N, hereinbefore assumed tobe open,

can be made parallel-sided and closed, as in: dicated in Fig. 17, sothat pressure can be' applied to the upper surface of the contentsintermittently or continuously either by a piston N, operated in anysuitable manner from any convenient moving part of the machine, Or, thepiston being dispensed with, by air-pressure delivered into the upperclosed end of the hoppersay by the pipe N (indicated in dotted lines.)

It will be understood that the shape of the perforations of thestencils, the disposition and grouping of the pneumatic tubes or otherdevices supporting the biscuits, and the shape of the feed-columns andof the portions of the feeder-plates which take the biscuits from thecolumns maybe suited to the size and shape of the biscuits to beoperated on. Further, more than one shape and size of biscuit can betreated in one machine according to this invention. For instance, onehalf or side of the machine may be devoted to one type of biscuit andthe other side of the machine to another.

In Figs. 18 and 19 the belt conveyer K, with iced biscuits P upon it, isshown as having above it the device hereinbefore referred to for layingcovering biscuits Q upon the coatings P of the coated biscuits, so as toproduee biscuit sandwiches P P Q. In this devicea feeder-plate fisreciprocated in guides A in the frame A by any convenient operativeconnection, such as the lever and rod K K a-nd an arm K, extending fromthe shaft K by which the belt conveyer K is operated, so as to moveforward intermittently. The feeder-plate f is similar to thefeeder-plate F, hereinbefore referred to, except that ithas gaps F atits leading edge, which are semicircular and unprovided with the bars Fsuch as are seen in Fig. 4. Immediately below it is a table R, uponwhich the under side of the feeder-plate bears,and between the underside of the table and the conveyer K there is just sufficient space topermit the rows of coated biscuits to pass onward through it upon theconveyer. Immediately above the feederplate f is fixed a group offeeder-columns g, (like the feeder-columns G in Fig. 1,) containing thecovering biscuits Q, hereinbefore referred to. The front end B of thetable R extends forward beneath the feeder-columns g, as shown.Reciprocation of the feederplate f causes the lowermost biscuit in eachcolumn 9 to be pushed out of it along the table R and over the front endof the latter just at the time that a row of biscuits lying upon theconveyer K transversely of its direction of motion is moved by thatconveyer in the direction of the arrow from under the front edge It ofthe table B, so that the leading edge of the upper biscuitt'. 6., thebiscuit coming from the table-descends upon the leading edge of thelower biscuit-i. 6., the biscuit on the conveyer-in the mannerillustrated in the drawings, and the upper biscuit as the conveyer Kmoves onward drops fiat upon the icing P on the lower one, so forming abiscuit sandwich PP Q. Near the table is a rubber or other yieldingroller S, mounted in bearings in the frame A. This roller appliespressure to the biscuit sandwiches, so as to cause the two biscuits andthe icing to adherefirmly together. A stationary pressure-plate might beput in place of the roller for the same purpose. I

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a coating-machine, the combination with a stencil-plate and afeed-column to contain the articles intended for treatment, of areciprocating plate which receives the articles from the feed-column, alitter to raise the articles from the reciprocating plate to thestencil-plate and an operative connection between the lifter and thereciprocating plate whereby the latter places the articles over thelifter and after they have been treated ejects the same from the lifter,substantially as set forth.

2. In a coating-machine, the combination with a stencil-plate, of ahollow lifter serving also as a disengager placed below the stencilplateopenings, means to raise the lifter toward the stencil-plate, and meanswhen thus raised to produce a partial vacuum Within the lifter,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In a coating-machine, the combination with a stencil-plate, of a hollowlifter serving also as a disengager, tubular extensions eachcommunicating with the interior of the lifter, an elastic tube withineach extension, ashoulder in the lifter to support the bottom of eachelastic tube, means to raise the lifter toward stencil-plate, and meansto produce a vacuum within the lifter when thus raised, substantially asset forth.

4. In a coatingunachine, the combination with a stencil-plate, of ahollow lifter serving also as a disengager, tubular extensions eachcommunicating with the interior of the lifter by a relatively restrictedpassage, an elastic tube within each extension, a shoulder in the lifterto support the bottom of each elastic tube, means to raise the liftertoward the stencil-plate and means to produce a vacuum within the lifterwhen thus raised, substantially as set forth.

5. In a coating-machine, the combination with a stencil-plate and ahopper movable relatively thereto, of a lever operatively connected withthe latter, a driving-shaft, a cam on that shaft to cooperate with thatlever, a pedal, an elastic connection between that pedal and theaforesaid lever comprising a spring, a feed-column to contain thearticles intended for treatment, a feeder-plate, a 1101- lowlifterserving also as a disengager, tubular extensions eachcommunicating with the interior of the lifter by a relatively restrictedpassage,an elastic tube within each extension, a shoulder in the lifterto support the bottom of each elastic tube, a vacuum vessel, a conduitconnecting the interior of the vacuum vessel with that of the lifter,avacuum-regulator in that conduit and an operative connection betweenthe feeder-plate the lifter and the regulator, substantially as setforth.

6. In a coating-machine, the combination with a stencil-plate and ahopper movable relatively thereto, of a lever operatively conneeted withthe latter, a driving-shaft, a cam on that shaft to cooperate with thatlever, a pedal and an elastic connection between that pedal and theaforesaid lever comprising a spring, substantially as set forth.

7. In a coating-machine, the combination with a stencil-plate and ahopper movable relatively thereto, of an operative connection betweenthem, a feed-column to contain the articles intended for treatment,afeeder-plate, a lifter to elevate the articles from the feederplate tothe stenci1-plate, an operative connection between the feeder-plate, andthe lifter, a conveyer, a table upon the conveyer, a second feeder-plateand a second feedcolunm upon that table, and an operative connectionbetween the conveyer, the second feeder-plate and the hopperandstencil-plate aforesaid, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE SAMUEL BAKER. WILLIAM THEODORE CARR.

Witnesses to the signature of George Samuel Baker:

WALTER J. SKERTEN, W. J. NoRWooD. Vitnesses to the signature of WilliamTheodore Carr:

ERNEST HUTCHINSON, THOMAS SCOTT.

